Rice University Regional Collaborative / Houston
To create a science and technology learning community for Houston area teachers, schools, and districts through program development and sustained teacher professional development in science content, pedagogy, systemic school reform, and technology. In 2008 the Rice Collaborative created a new training laboratory housed in Spring Branch ISD: the ConocoPhillips-Rice Elementary Model Science Lab (CPR Lab). This training laboratory trains approximately 80 elementary science teachers each year from districts throughout the Greater Houston area. The aim of the CPR Lab program is no less than to transform the nature and effectiveness of elementary science instruction in the Greater Houston area.
Accomplishments
The Rice Collaborative now serves hundreds of schools and thousands of teachers in the greater Houston area and beyond. The program has grown to include science and technology teacher professional development for grades K-12, and technology support and web-based applications for teachers. There are currently more than 20 full time science specialists supporting science instruction in Aldine ISD as a continuation of a partnership with the Rice Collaborative that received a special recognition partnership award in 2002 at the Governor’s Conference on Mathematics, Science & Technology education. The teacher and professional development eLearning website, http://Learn.Rice.edu, now has more than 5000 users. An additional website, www.TAKScopes.com provides curricular resources to elementary science teachers across the state.
A large scale systemic program for improving elementary science instruction in Houston ISD was initiated in 2006-07, the Rice University Elementary Model Science Lab . This innovative, one-of-a-kind program trains 80 teacher participants one full day each week throughout each academic year in science content knowledge, best practices for science teaching, and teacher mentoring and leadership skills. With financial support from ConocoPhillips, this Lab program was expanded to reach teachers throughout the greater Houston area in 2008-09. The ConocoPhillips Rice Elementary Model Science Lab program is located in Spring Branch ISD at Treasure Forest Elementary.
Contacts
Ron Sass, Ph.D.
Project Director
[email protected]
713-348-5461
Replace with Name: Ron Sass, Ph.D., Title: Project Director, Email: [email protected], Phone: 713-348-5461; Home Page URL: http://Learn.Rice.edu
Web Site: http://Learn.Rice.edu
Partners
Rice University Center for Education
Rice University Earth Science Department
Rice University Chemistry Department
Rice University Ecology & Evolutionary Biology Department
Spring Branch ISD
ConocoPhillips
Toshiba America Foundation
NASA
Participating Districts and Schools
| Aldine ISD Alief ISD Alvin ISD Brazosport ISD Channelview ISD Cleveland ISD Crosby ISD Fort Bend ISD Galveston ISD Galena Park ISD Goose Creek ISD Houston ISD Humble ISD |
Katy ISD Klein ISD Lamar CISD LaPorte ISD Magnolia ISD New Caney ISD North Forest ISD Pasadena ISD Pearland ISD Sheldon ISD Spring ISD Spring Branch ISD Tomball ISD Waller ISD |
